Berlin, El Sky News – German authorities have arrested 18 individuals as part of a large-scale international operation that dismantled a global cybercrime network suspected of stealing and selling credit card information from over 4.3 million victims across 193 countries.
The operation involved cooperation between law enforcement agencies in Italy, Canada, Singapore, the United States, and several other European countries under the coordination of Europol and Interpol.
According to an official statement from the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany (Bundeskriminalamt/BKA), the suspects are believed to be part of an international syndicate conducting large-scale online fraud, including the sale of stolen credit card data on the dark web and secret digital marketplaces.
“This is one of the largest operations we have ever conducted against cross-border cyber fraud. International collaboration was key to this success,” said a BKA spokesperson at a press briefing in Berlin.
Modus Operandi
Investigators found that the group used hidden servers across multiple countries to:
- Distribute malware that stole user data,
- Sell credit card and bank account information on dark web platforms,
- Conduct fraudulent transactions using victims’ identities.
Additionally, the suspects allegedly laundered money through cryptocurrency to conceal their criminal proceeds.
Seized Evidence
During simultaneous raids at 12 locations across Germany and Europe, authorities seized:
- Over 50 computers and main servers,
- Hundreds of SIM cards and encrypted communication devices,
- Digital assets worth approximately €3.7 million in cryptocurrency.
Legal Proceedings
All 18 suspects are currently detained for further investigation under German cybercrime law. International authorities are coordinating the extradition of additional suspects believed to be outside Europe.
Investigators warned that global cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread, targeting financial sectors, e-commerce platforms, and even government institutions.“Criminals no longer operate within a single country they move across continents. That’s why global collaboration is essential,” said Maria van der Laan, a Europol spokesperson, at The Hague
